Carpinus caroliniana Walt. American Hombeam or Blue Beech Native to western N. America and Central America. Its wood is used for small items, such as tool handles. Height to 12m (40ft). Flowers emerge in April, male catkins 2.5-3.7cm (1-1˝in) long, females 1.2-2cm (˝-žin) at growing tips. Fruiting catkins may be 12.5cm (5in) long, composed of nutlets 0ˇ8cm (1/3 in) surrounded by bracts which turn papery brown and fall from the tree in the autumn. Leaves are more tapered at the tip than European Hornbeam (C. betulus) and turn orange and red in the autumn. Bark is smooth grey and fluted. Zone 5.